Paedophile jailed for abusing child aged two

Mark Ahmed plotted to father a child to molest

A SICK paedophile abused a two-year-old and plotted to father a child to molest.

Twisted Mark Ahmed, who lived at St Johns Road, Newbury, was jailed by a Reading Crown Court judge on Friday, June 19.

Judge Stephen John had earlier heard how 37-year-old Ahmed, a former member of the armed services for 17 years, met the woman, who lived in Arizona in the US, online and together they abused young children in front of the Skype camera as they encouraged each other's depravity.

Judge Stephen John was told that predatory paedophile Ahmed exchanged sick images of himself abusing a two-year-old girl and asked to have a baby with the woman so they could molest the newborn.

The former military man began speaking to the woman over an instant messenger service, before they exchanged vile photos and videos of themselves abusing children for hours over one day.

The paedophile was caught out just hours after sending images to Roxanne Chapin when Arizona Police contacted officers in the UK to report the sick abuse.

Ahmed told arresting police: "I am not coming back for a long time am I?"

The judge was told that Ahmed committed the offences after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The abuse all took place over one day, January 23 this year.

Prosecuting, Nicholas Barraclough said: "He abused her (the child) very seriously throughout the day. Mark Ahmed sent 20 images to the woman showing sexual activity with the child. He used Skype to contact Chapin and provided a running commentary of the abuse."

He added: "There was discussion of having a baby for the purpose of abuse."

Shaven-headed Ahmed, wearing a grey jumper and blue jeans, sat emotionless in the dock as he listened to proceedings.

He admitted attempting to rape a child aged under 13, three counts of assaulting a child aged under 13 by penetration, and one count of making indecent photos of a child and one count of distributing indecent images of a child, at a previous hearing.

In mitigation, the court heard the sex attacker was under the influence of drugs when the offences took place.

Defending, Alistair Grainger said: "Mercifully, no injuries were caused and one can hope and pray she is too young to remember this and hope and pray that it has no long-lasting effects on her.

"He is sufficiently realistic and feels deeply ashamed. He will apply to go on the necessary programmes and his time in custody will be productive."

Jailing him for 17 years and four months, Judge John said: "The facts are chilling and of the most disturbing nature. The only positive feature in this case is that it provides a very clear demonstration of how determined and speedy action by the police here and abroad can safeguard young children and bring offenders to justice.

"The child abuse communications can only be described as grotesque, as she was seen to be encouraging you in the sexual abuse and expressing pleasure at doing so.”

He added: "You both discuss having a baby together whom you and she could then abuse. That woman has made admissions to the Arizona Police of sexual abuse of children and of making and receiving images from you."

Referring to the victim, he said: "The victim of these offences was only two years of age, scarcely more than a baby. It is too early for anyone to be able to assess the psychological effects of your offending upon her, one can only hope that memories are not laid down so as to affect her future.

"The account you gave about feeling emotionally attached to the woman in the USA and that you acted as you did only because you wished to keep her happy, is one I reject. You had never met this woman, living thousands of miles away. Your only interest was in sharing chat-log discussions about the abuse of small children and exchanging images with her.

"Your claim to have never been sexually attracted to children is patently false and self-deluding. You even go so far as to suggest that this woman was grooming you.

"It is quite apparent that you are a long way from confronting your behaviour. The images are close to those of the most serious kind and I have absolutely no doubt that you pose a significant risk of serious harm to children.